Text: The Magna Carta

Three miles south-east of Windsor is a famous place where King John signed the Magna Carta. There was constant struggle for power between King John Lackland and the barons. Finally the barons organized an open rebellion. In 1215 the king was forced to seal a document called the Magna Carta Libertata (the Great Charter), which limited the prerogative of the Crown or government and extended the powers of the Barons. The charter affirmed the individual’s right to justice and liberty and has always been regarded by Englishmen as their chief constitutional safeguard against unjust and arbitrary rule. It has also found a place in the American Constitution and influenced modern human rights charter.

The Magna Carta Memorial stands on a wooded hill-side. It represents a domed classical temple structure, containing a pillar of English granite on which is inscribed, “To commemorate Magna Carta, symbol of Freedom Under Law”. It was erected in 1957.

Chief Clauses of Magna Carta:

1. Church to be free.

2. London, and all towns, to have their ancient liberties and customs.

3. Fines to be proportionate to the offence.

4. No one to be brought to trial on the bare word of a bailiff, without trustworthy witnesses.

5. No freeman shall be seized, or imprisoned except by the lawful judgement of his equals, or by the law of the land.

6. To no one will we sell, or deny, or delay, right of justice.

7. Constables, Sheriffs, and bailiffs to be appointed from those who know the law, and will keep it.

8. Every one in the kingdom to have and hold all the aforesaid liberties, rights and concessions.

Questions:

1. Why did King John Lackland seal a document called the Magna Carta Libertata?

2. What did the Great Charter limit and affirm?

3. How is the Magna Carta Memorial look like?

4. How do the British regard Magna Carta?

5. What are the chief Clauses of Magna Carta?

Text: The Bill of Rights

The British Constitution is an unwritten constitution. It is not contained in a single legal document, but every Act of Parliament is like a law.

The Bill of Rights, passed in 1689, was the first legal step towards constitutional monarchy. The Bill of Rights stated that the legislative and executive power of the monarch was limited. The monarch could not impose taxes. The Bill prevented the monarch from making laws or having an army without Parliament’s approval. A number of clauses were designed to control the power of kings and queens.

The Bill of Rights was one of three very important laws made at this time. The other two were the 1689 Toleration Act (which promoted religious toleration) and the 1694 Triennial Act, which prevented the king from dissolving Parliament on his will and held that general elections had to be held every three years.

In 1701 the Parliament passed the Act of Settlement that secured Protestant succession to the throne. The Act of Settlement is of major constitutional importance, it has remained in force ever since.

Since passing the Bill of Rights the power of Parliament has grown, while the power of the monarch has become weaker.

Questions:

1. What is British Constitution?

2. What did Bill of Rights state?

3. How were the rights of the monarch limited by the Bill of Rights?

4. What did the Toleration Act promote?

5. What did the Triennial Act prescribe?

6. What did the Act of Settlement secure?